CLASSIC and important CARS - open thread:

AndrewFlannigan said:
I can't see why.

They're just BLMC Mini mechanics in a different shell. An episode of the "Wheeler Dealers" TV programme showed how simple they are to work on. There's a Wikipedia entry, here...

en.wikipedia.org

Mini Moke - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
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Well, I mean here in Germany. I am not sure how well BMW can handle older MINIs. In the U.K. this is different, I expect.
 
justpix said:
Well, I mean here in Germany. I am not sure how well BMW can handle older MINIs. In the U.K. this is different, I expect.
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I wouldn't want a current BMW to touch anything of mine, especially a real Mini; they need proper mechanics!
 
Nod said:
I wouldn't want a current BMW to touch anything of mine, especially a real Mini; they need proper mechanics!
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That's how I see it, too. I had a company BMW 525i from 1990-1992, and I was not satisfied with BMW garages.

I do not think they have become better over the years with their own cars. With vintage MINIs the may be even worse.

I have never owned a BMW car since then ...

(With my BMW motorcycles I was very happy. I did my own maintenance, and I used a BMW motorcycle workshop (separate from cars) only once.
 
The place that deals with my car is a marque specialist and has all the correct software to deal with modern Jaguars BUT they do have mechanics there rather than just technicians since they also deal with ANY Jag, from SS 80 up to the latest ICE cars. They can't handle the high voltage side of EVs but can do any of the mechanical stuff and diagnostics on them.
 
Nod said:
The place that deals with my car is a marque specialist and has all the correct software to deal with modern Jaguars BUT they do have mechanics there rather than just technicians since they also deal with ANY Jag, from SS 80 up to the latest ICE cars. They can't handle the high voltage side of EVs but can do any of the mechanical stuff and diagnostics on them.
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You are lucky. I am not satisfied with my MERCEDES garage. They let my E430 deteriorate. And for my 300SE they did not have the proper diagnostic tool.

So, I take my 300SE to BOSCH, whose owner worked at MERCEDES, or to a smaller workshop, again run by a former MERCEDES master technician now.

And my next car won't be a MERCEDES...
 
It was a garage owner (he has a selection of VERY desirable cars, including 2 or 3 classic Jags) who recommended the specialist to us when Mrs Nod had a problem with her XK8. Been dealing with them for over 10 years now and very happy with their work.
 
Nod said:
It was a garage owner (he has a selection of VERY desirable cars, including 2 or 3 classic Jags) who recommended the specialist to us when Mrs Nod had a problem with her XK8. Been dealing with them for over 10 years now and very happy with their work.
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This is how it should be. - I must be fair. Not everything is bad at MERCEDES. They were still very good at writing bills ...
 
The specialist's hourly rate is less that 1/3 the main stealer's. Mind you, the workshop floor isn't mopped every couple of hours and repainted monthly... :D
 
Nod said:
The specialist's hourly rate is less that 1/3 the main stealer's. Mind you, the workshop floor isn't mopped every couple of hours and repainted monthly... :D
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Lucky you !!! At PORSCHE you pay 125€/hour, at MERCEDES 100€/hour. A little less at smaller garages ...
 
justpix said:
You are lucky. I am not satisfied with my MERCEDES garage. They let my E430 deteriorate. And for my 300SE they did not have the proper diagnostic tool.

So, I take my 300SE to BOSCH, whose owner worked at MERCEDES, or to a smaller workshop, again run by a former MERCEDES master technician now.

And my next car won't be a MERCEDES...
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Think of the plight of the Saab 9-5 (New Generation) owner.

Saab specialists in the UK are decreasing in number due to a number of factors (retirement mostly) or greedy landlords. Coupled with the fact that since 1993, the Opelisation of the cars gradually increased, from about 30% in the NG900 of 1993 to 70-80% in the NG9-5. Mechanically my car is a Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 Turbo, but what you see and look at is a Saab. Given the car's origin some specialists don't have the tools for these (9-3 and OG 9-5 are ok), the NG9-5 and 9-3SS are vey different cars, and now, since 2017, Vauxhall has gone from GM ownership, via PSA to Stellantis a substantial number of dealers that were owned by Vauxhall itself, rebranded to Robins and Day, and now Stellantis and You. S&Y means multi-agent dealers and less Insignia parts availability, and the last vestiges of the Rootes Group vanished with Robins and Day. So, on one hand, I've got 'Vauxhall' dealers (who were also Saab agents) who don't understand Saabs, and specialists who won't touch the NG because they don't have the correct technology. Fortunately in Epsom, there is a guy who will service and inspect it, but it is a 3-train journey home... I could get an Audi but I would be generally hated for being an Audiot, and stop looking back at my Saab in admiration. Rant over.
 
Hi, SAABs were always exclusive cars here in Germany. With a matching support structure. I do not know any SAAB garages in my area.

In my neighbourhood lives a SAAB owner. I shall ask him about where he takes his car ...
 
Saw this beauty in Warsaw, 900c 5-door. Giving that slope front 900 carbs were made for 2 years from 1987 onwards this would be an 88 or 89 model. Obviously fanboy owned because they having a 'prancing elk' sticker (similar to Ferrari's prancing horse) on the front wing. Got to love the Polish historic plates.

On the subject of Polish and 'historic' I was expecting to see loads of communist era cars. Apart from a company doing historic car tours with 125 and 126p Polski Fiats, some old Skoda busses I only saw one FSO Caro, no Polonez (I think the Polonez was a much better looking car).

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Almost strange to see an Alfa that colour not spread all over a garage floor!
 
Hi, a MERCEDES 170S :


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And this was our family car from 1959 -1964 (pic taken in 1961, slidescan 2005):


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White wall tires were a luxury then. It was a good car. I still remember the rides, and the BECKER valve radio (MW-SW-LW). Being a pre-war construction the cars were
not popular in the 1960s. I could have bought one in 1968 used for 200DM. (The ones hat got away ...)
 
Hi, the VW Passat I took over from my wife :


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I stuck a coin in the middle of the dashboard . I am used to have a Mercedes star on the bonnet. The coin helps a little ... :


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